First let me say that the intent of this article is not to tell anyone how to vote. It is not to say one should or should not vote Democrat. It is not to say one should or should not vote Republican. Indeed, as an Independent I have and will vote Democrat, Republican and/or a combination of the two since those are the only two major viable political parties now.
It is problematic that various non-Christian religions/faiths and various Christian religions/faiths/groups/denominations form due to differences in scripture understanding in their quest to properly recognize and surrender to God and achieve that pure religion James 1:27 talks about. Likewise, various political parties and ideologies arise even among Christians.
James says: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
Within the US, the Republican platform at the present time seem to emphasize the “keep himself unspotted from the world” more than the Democrat platform, yet without ample emphasis on the “visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction”; here the fatherless and widows principle includes anyone afflicted including the poor and those affected by racism, historical and present day. In my view they are right to be pro-life with regards to abortion but should also be and actively communicate that they are pro-life with regards to other matters of life to include issues of racism, past and present.
On the other hand, Democrat platform seem to emphasize the “visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction” more than the Republican platform yet without ample emphasis on the “keep himself unspotted from the world”.
For both parties and all other persons and organizations, the challenge is to obtain a righteous balance between the above mentioned aspects of religion. Indeed, it is at its core a spiritual battle in which we are engulfed.
Politically I am an independent. I began as a Democrat then went Republican. The main reason I got out of the democratic party was their platform’s support for arbitrary abortion. But I became uneasy with the Republican platform and/or implementation seemingly weak compassion toward the “have-nots”. So some years ago, I began to classify myself as an Independent meaning I vote the person and/or the issue not the party, depending on a number of factors important to me at the particular time. So I vote both “Democrat” and “Republican”, etc.
When President Obama ran I voted for him solely because he was a qualified black person although I knew his party stands for some things I do not stand for. I did so because my priority was not to miss the opportunity for this nation to have its first qualified clearly black President. Though he, like all Presidents disappointed me in some areas, I do not regret voting for him twice.
Both parties mentions God in their 2016 written platforms. The Democrats mentions God three times and the Republicans mentions God 15 times. But it is not about the number of times God is mentioned Jesus speaks to this in Matthew 7 when he talks about hypocrites who honor God with their mouths and lips but their hearts are far from God teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. It is about what the platform stands for and the degree with which it lines up with the Word, Will, and Way of God. That is something each voter must consider. I have my view and I preach it. But that is not the purpose of this document as I address many of the major issues elsewhere.
I pray, hope, and minister for a church, government, schools, businesses, and society in general that more boldly promote God’s Word, Will, and Way to include productive economic compassion for the “have nots”. Both parties could use improvements especially regarding hand-ups and hand-outs. So it is for the nature of man as we all could use improvements. That is why I try to be balanced in my conversations about societal issues like race and politics. It is extremely important that I as a preacher be balanced less I not present the whole counsel of God. That is true for all preachers.
References:
Democrat Party Links:
Republican Party Links:
Historical References:
Former President Obama Whitehouse Archives
